Sports
NIGERIA and Algeria are set to meet in a friendly encounter at the New Stadium in Oran, Algeria, on September 27, reports soccernet.ng.
The two African giants were at the last Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroun, where the Desert Foxes relinquished the trophy they won at the 2019 edition.
The Super Eagles also ended the tournament in disappointment, as the team exited in the first knockout stage despite winning all their three group matches.
Coach Jose Peseiro’s men will battle against an Algerian team that has won four of five games since that AFCON debacle, beating Uganda, Tanzania, and Iran.
The only defeat they suffered to Cameroun cost them a ticket to the FIFA World Cup to be held in Qatar in November.
Nigeria also failed to qualify for the Copa do Mundo, losing on the away-goal rule to fierce West African rivals, Ghana.
The Super Eagles have, however, not been in action since handing a 10-0 drubbing to Sao Tome and Principe in June.
Algeria have won their last two matches against Nigeria, defeating the Super Eagles 2-1 in the semifinal of AFCON 2019 and claiming a 1-0 friendly win in Austria in October 2020.
Meanwhile, former Super Eagles’ Vice Captain, Eddy Ogenyi Onazi, is fully backing the Super Eagles B to overwhelm the Black Galaxies of Ghana when both teams clash for a spot at the seventh African Nations Championship CHAN) coming up in Algeria early next year.
Onazi, who has enjoyed quality training time with the 2018 CHAN runners-up in Abuja, says he is comfortable with the quality of players and their fitness, as well as the quality of the coaching crew.
He said: “I think the coaches have put together a very strong team that is capable of nicking the ticket at the expense of Ghana. I have seen the players are very fit and good enough to make Nigeria proud.
“I know Coach Salisu Yusuf is well-informed in the domestic league and has assembled the best players in the league, and I can also see that the other members of the technical crew are positioned to help the head coach.”
The former Lazio player featured in the team’s first friendly match against Mahanaim FC, which the Eagles came from two goals down to win 3-2.
“It was a very good test for the Eagles. They are preparing for a very big game and I liked the level of the game. We had to fight back to win,” he said about the game.
Onazi is warming up in Abuja for another club outside the country.
He explained: “I am actually here to collect my passport to travel and then I heard the team was training here. I like the opportunity to train at this high level and so I grabbed it. It is the best way to stay fit.”
The Eagles B has continued their build-up for the matches against the Galaxies of Ghana billed for Sunday, August 28 in Cape Coast and Saturday, September 3 in Abuja. The winner on aggregate will qualify for Algeria 2023.
-The Guardian
KN
Tags: Africa Cup of Nations Eddy Ogenyi Onazi FIFA Jose Peseiro Salisu Yusuf Super Eagles
